The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-07-18
JOHN BROWNS SONS.
Their Home In the Sierra Madres- A
Peculiar Family.

Ths first peak Of the lofty Sierra Madres,
beginning at the Arroyo SEGA canyon, oppo-
site Pasadena, has been named after John
Brown, and is known as Browns peak.
About its base. overlooking the San Gabriel
valley, are the houses his sons and their
descendants, who to the number of 10 have
made their homes here. The selection of
this site shows the inherent love for the
mountains possessed by these people. A
more charming spot it would be difficult to
find in all southern California.
Their house is plain and simple, but as
stood in the doorway it occurred to me that
they had something which no palace in this
country or Europe possessed. their incom-
parable view. From the mountain side you
look down hundreds of feet into the green
abyss Of Negro canyon, while beyond rise the
slopes of the Sierras to an altitude of 5cc0
feet. turn of the head, and the garden
spot of the San Gabriel is beneath you
groves of oranges, OLIVES, eucalyptus, banana.
apple, peach, cherry, and every sub-tropical
and temperate tree; fields of waving grain
and broad mesas carpeted with wild flowers.
Beyond Pasadena rise the Mission and Pu-
ente hills, and in their midst lies a small lag
una MucIc bilt VIII uuCkS 1--we. BeNOnU
again, 20 miles or more is the blue Pacific
with the Islands of Santa Catalina plainly
visible, while the vessels at anchor in Will
mington harbor can be counted, so clear is
the air.
Amid such scenes the Brown brothers live.
Upon these mountain slopes they intend to
pass their days in peace and quiet. For two
years they had been living upon the plateau
of Las Cacitas, but recently they sold part
Of their ranch and moved further up
the range A singular series of disasters
has befallen these two old men. Owen was
disabled some years ago by being dragged
for several miles by a runaway horse and
Jason has been repeatedly burned out IN the
Middle States, so that at present they are in
reduced circumstances. When they moved
into their mountain home some good friends
on the mountain slopes conceived the idea of
giving them house warming, which result
ed in furnishing the new home in a modest
way.
Thirteen members of the Brown family
live within rife shot of Las Cacitas. They
are Owen and Jason Brown, the two sons,
Mrs. Ruth Brown Thompson, her husband.
henry thompson, and, near by, two daugh-
tiers and their families. Henry Thompson
was with Captain John Brown in many of
his trips, and was wounded in the battle of
Black Jack, in the early Kansas troubles,
Jason and Owen have been through adyen-
ture enough to make their hair much whittier
than 1t is On more than one occasion Jason
III.
the last, when he barred his breast to the
rifles OF the border ruffians, and told them to
aim at his heart, his GOODNESS and bravery
alone saved his life
One cannot converse with these men five
minutes without seeing that the mantle Of
the father has fallen upon the sons. Their
Ideas OF what justice should be are Singular
to the average man, for the simple reason
that they are utterly at variance with Justice
as we meet it every day. A few examples of
their philosophy Will show, their character.
They do not consider it right to take interest
on money loaned. Some time ago, when some
friends raised s0rie money to buy them a
cow and the check was presented, they pro-
tested that there were others who needed it
more, and 1t Was their earnest desire that the
money should be sent to the colored sufferers
from the earthquake that occurred in Charles
taS. - bout that time.
Sr~h the Grand Army men visited Pasa-
etaa IN the summer of 1886, the Browns were
taken In a carriage, rope attached to the
pole, and dragged through the town amid the
playing OF patriotic airs-much to their con-
fusion, as no more modest and retiring men
ever lived; yet they found occasion to sug-
gest three cheers for the South, and Jason
has often told the writer that while they
have not the slightest enmity toward the
people of the South, understanding exactly
how bitter the feeling was at that time
They consider that their father died that
freedom might live, and that he himself con-
sidered his death was an offering to the cause
is shown by his words, which were. in effect.
that it would do more to help the cause than
any further action of his in life.
These children of John Brown not only
practice justice. but carry it out to such an
extent that this has probably kept them poor.
That they are honored by their neighbors II
need hardly be said When the boycott on
the Chinese was declared here in 1886. the
Browns were at once on the side of the
going to Los Angeles to employ Chinaman.
for the sake of the example or principle. ii
nothing more, even if he had to work nights
to earn the money to pay him. The last
time / VieitQd tho c1anac nf Rroun,e IDooI~